C2 Chu Hen's Transmigration(2)

"Prepare for the young master to wash his hands."

The two maids nodded in acknowledgment, one leading and the other following, as they briskly walked toward the archway on the left side of the house. One stopped at the arch while the other swiftly passed through and vanished from sight. Their quick steps were orderly, betraying their disciplined training.

Did even a trip to the restroom necessitate an escort? Was this common among the elite in ancient times? Chu Hen wondered.

In fact, at the Chu Mansion, Chu Hen's daily routine from dawn to dusk was meticulously attended to by servants. Their positions, both inside and outside the archways, were prearranged, though today the young master's early visit to the restroom meant the two maids stationed further away had to cover more ground.

But what was a few extra steps, really?

"Gurgle, gurgle..."

His stomach protested loudly.

No longer concerned with formalities, Chu Hen headed in the direction of the maids.

...

The next moment found Chu Hen seated on the ancient "toilet"—a clean bucket.

The privy was adjacent to the bedroom he had used the night before, constructed with a sandalwood frame and walls smoothed with a special fragrant ash. An intricately carved cross-lattice served as a ventilation window. The spotless sandalwood floor was covered with a perfectly sized piece of yellow oilcloth beneath the clean bucket.

Thankfully, the maids had simply lit sandalwood incense in the privy and sprinkled fine pine shavings into the receptacle below the bucket, placing a stack of square, soft toilet paper in a rosewood box beside the bucket's armrest before standing by outside.

Overall, Chu Hen had never experienced such a lavatory environment, even in his previous life, let alone had attendants at his beck and call.

After relieving himself, Chu Hen felt much more comfortable. However, his mind was now overwhelmed with information flooding in, scene after scene unfolding like a movie with "Young Master He" as the protagonist.

When he reappeared before the portly steward, Young Master He had a clear idea of what to do next.

What he hadn't anticipated was the myriad of intricate rules and considerations involved in simple daily activities such as washing up, burning incense, and having breakfast at the Chu Mansion.

Chu Hen was dining in the Hongyun Tower, one of the many establishments run by the Chu family. Young Master Hen had a particular fondness for their crab roe steamed cake and coconut milk cheese soup, often enjoying his breakfast there.

Securing a year-round supply of crab roe and coconut milk, ingredients essential to these dishes, was a feat unmatched by any other establishment in Draseon.

This culinary excellence was undoubtedly linked to his late father, but it seemed even more so to his sister, whose capabilities knew no bounds.

The Chu family was vast, with hundreds of members and a rigid hierarchy that would baffle the average person.

Having satisfied his appetite, Chu Hen rose to his feet. The corpulent butler approached with a sycophantic smile.

"Young Master Hen..."

With a dismissive wave, Chu Hen silenced the butler, who wisely kept his posture as he retreated.

Perched beside the water at the highest point in Draseon, the Hongyun Tower boasted a private third-floor room with an exceptional view. One need not peer through the delicate jade bead curtain across the dining table to take in the expansive vista of Draseon.

Chu Hen stepped forward, and the maidservants at his side swiftly parted the bead curtain, creating a clear path to the balcony.

Beyond the curtain, the landscape of Draseon lay before him in all its glory: verdant mountains, azure waters, and a misty horizon where they met. Boats of all kinds glided down the river, laborers toiled silently in the fields, and merchants hawked their wares in bustling streets—a picture of thriving prosperity.

The riverbanks were lined with strategically placed buildings, and among those nearest to the Hongyun Tower stood the imposing and grand Chu Mansion.

At that moment, the Chu Mansion was a hive of activity, with servants and maids bustling about. The throng of people gave Chu Hen a sense of unrivaled superiority, as if he were above all others.

He now understood the allure of this place for his predecessor: beyond the exquisite cuisine, it offered a sense of grandeur and prestige.

Reflecting on this, Chu Hen was filled with contemplation, further assimilating the memories of the former profligate.

This land was ancient, yet unlike any ancient realm I was familiar with. Fragments of memory told me that this continent, imbued with mystical forces, was known as the Central Plains. The Chu family's domain, Draseon, was part of the vast Smoile Empire, and the Chu estate was undeniably one of the wealthiest and most influential families in Draseon.

The man I had replaced was a wastrel, notorious for his countless heinous deeds, and coincidentally, he too bore the name Chu Hen.

His sister, Chu Jing, was a prodigy with an imperious nature. She had been specially recruited by the sect for her exceptional talents and seldom returned home. It was only after their father's death that she began to show a semblance of familial affection, occasionally visiting to provide care. To the sole heir of the Chu family, she was exceedingly indulgent.

Yet, the former Chu Hen seemed to have harbored a mix of fear and adoration for his sister.

Luckily, she was summoned by the sect and was not present to witness my initial blunders. Otherwise, she might have spotted an inconsistency. As for the servants, they wouldn't dare speculate about their master's affairs, even if they did notice something amiss.

With these thoughts in mind, I turned around, only to lock eyes with the steward, who bore the nickname 'Pig Oil.'

"Young Master..." The steward, Butler Chu, hesitated.

"Out with it!"

"The young lady?"

Butler Chu faltered, prompting a shift in my thoughts.

The young lady, Yu'er, was Scholar Liu's only daughter from the Chu family's lands. She had been betrothed before I forcibly took her. Rumor had it that her fiancé, Chen Sheng, was a destitute scholar.

I shook my head, inwardly lamenting that it was best to avoid causing undue harm, especially since Yu'er's family had no significant quarrel with me.

Channeling the demeanor of the 'Young Master He' from my memories, I declared, "I'm in a generous mood today. Let's bestow some finery upon her and send her back to her sweetheart."

"Eh?" Butler Chu's face contorted awkwardly. "Young Master He, haven't you already ordered guards to watch the scholar's home, intending to send Chen Sheng to toil at the frontier?"

"Then we must recall Ghost Ah Pan at once!"

Chu Hen was taken aback, overwhelmed by the flood of details from his predecessor's memories. With just a nudge, these recollections sprang vividly to the forefront of his mind.

Gui Ah Pan, a servant in the Chu household, was once a notorious bandit known for his heinous crimes. By the letter of the law, he should have met the executioner's blade many times over. However, after being bought off by the Chu family, he loyally served as Chu Hen's henchman, spearheading the abduction of local maidens.

"Thump, thump, thump... Young... Young Master!"

The sound of frantic footsteps approached, and the beaded curtain was sent flying in all directions. A breathless servant from the Chu Mansion burst in, his face etched with panic. "It's... It's... It's terrible, Young Master! Ghost Ah Pan has been killed by Chen Sheng."

"What? But that scholar has no martial arts training. How could he possibly kill Ghost Ah Pan?" The Butler of the Chu household furrowed his brow, his plump face a picture of confusion.

"A mere scholar gains a miraculous advantage and overnight becomes strong enough to defeat a martial arts master?"

Piecing together his own transmigration experience, Chu Hen's imagination ran wild. A shiver ran down his spine as a surge of adrenaline shot from his head to his toes.

"This is a dire turn of events. Could it be that he's the protagonist of this transmigration? If so, am I, the notorious villain who stole his betrothed, in grave danger?"